Apparatus for increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines



Feb. 12, 1935. J. H. KRIECK APPARATUS FOR mcnmsme THE EFFICIENCY OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 21, 1953 I A g m I W a F A z 7 3 Z /7m33 M 3 a 8 Z m Q a 0 u 8 w W m m u -1 J 5 2 3 2 9 x 6. ,6 F 2 3 3 JAMES H.KRIECK INVENTOR- w Mm 2 mm ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIXCE APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE EFFI- CIENCY OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION EN- GINES can (01. 123-196) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines, particularly'thekind used as a driving means for automobiles. It is one 5 of the principal objects of the invention to eliminate from the lubricating oil'in the crankcase of such an engine liquid impurities as fuel and water, and such solids as carbon, sludge, and the like. Another object is to salvage, for useful consumption by the engine, fuel seeping past the piston rings and most otherwise escaping volatile fumes emanating from the crank case. A further object is to provide simple apparatus by means of which a clean lubricating film isapplied to such surfaces and bearings as valve stems and guides, piston rings, and cylinder walls. A still further object is to provide means for removing volatile impurities from the engine lubricating oil in the crank case sump without 29 the necessity of the oil from th'eengine. Still another object is to deposit water vapors drawn from the crankcase into the explosion chamber of the engine, there to be converted into steam to reduce the formation of carbon.. Further objects are the provision in an apparatus of thejkind speciiied of an automatic suction control device, and also of an adjustable and easily removable filter element. Still further objects will become apparentafter 30 a perusal or the followinglg specification and an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the "invention is shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational front view of the apparatus embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. vertical cross'sectional view along the plane of line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing partially in section the suction control device along the plane ofline 33 inFig. 2; and I Fig. 4 is a separate sectional view of the adjustable and removable filter element proper. 45 Like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views and the following speciflcation.

10 is a substantially cylindrical housing having a rearward extension 11 bent downwardly to form a. bracket 12 provided with bolt holes 13 for securing the housing by means of the usual bolts to a dash board of an automobile or other convenient location. A top 14 of the housing 10 has a central inwardly projecting tubular eggtension 15.

16 is asmaller cylindrical-housing laterally disposed in front of housing 10 and in communication therewith by an opening 17. One end of the small housing 16 is threaded to receive an adJusting plug 18 having an inwardly extending 5 central stem 19. 20 is a pin driven into stem 19 and extending there beyond toward the opposite end of the housing 16 to form a guide for a conical valve member 21 slidably mounted thereon, having a stem 22. The end of the housing 16 opposite the one threaded for the plug 18 is tapped for a pipe 23 and the inside wall of the housing 16 is shaped so as to form a valve seat at 24 for the valve 21. 25 is a. retractile helical spring, securely fastened to valve stem 22 with one end and to plug stem 19 with the other, thus urging the valve 21 away from .lts seat 24 toward the plug 18. I

At both sides of housing lo are 'V-shaped ears 26 having vertical bores 27. The lower end of housing 10 is enlarged cyiindrically at 28 to form a seat 29 for a gasket 30 made of cork or other compressible material. V

31 is a glass cup having its open end bear against the gasket 30. 32 is a substantially U- shaped wire frame having side pieces 33 extending upwardly through bores 27 of ears 26 at the sides of the housing, and its connecting bar 34 across the bottom of the cup 31, this bar being spaced somewhat from the cup in its center at 35 and provided with a tube-like covering 36 made of rubber or the like. The open ends of side pieces 33 have securely fastened thereto washers 37, and helical springs 38 are disposed between these washers and ears 26, the springs thus forcing the topof the glass cup 31 against the gasket 30 by the pressure exerted by the springs against the underside of washers 37 which istransmittedtothe cross bar 34 and thus against the cup.

39 is a central tube of the filter. The top of the tube 39 is threaded exterlorly at 40 to be screwed into the correspondingly tapped inwardly extension 15 of the top 14 of housing 10. The bottom of the tube 39 is similarly threaded at 41. 42 is a perforated disc, slightly curved downwardly, of a diameter somewhat less than the inside diameter of housing 10. Disc 42 is held in position on the tube 39 near its top by lock nuts 43 and 44 placed, respectively, above and below the disc. 45 is a disc similar to disc 42, but curved upwardly, placed over the threaded bottom end 41 of tube 39, and adjustably secured thereto by means of lock nuts 46. 47 is the fllter element proper, placed circularly around tube 39 and confined between discs 42 and 45. This filter element is, preferably, made of metal wool, wiring, shavings or other specially suited material. It is obvious that the density of the filter element can be varied by adjusting the position of discs 42 and 45; so by screwing them closer together, the material comprising the filter will be packed together tighter, increasing its density, and vice versa.

48 is a tube screwed into the top of housing 10 in communication with tube 39 of the filter.

The method of operation and application of the device is as follows:

The pipe 23 is connected to the inlet manifold of the engine to which the device is applied, and the pipe 48 to the upper part of the crank case at any convenient point above the oil sump. When the engine is placed in operation, a suction is set up in the intake manifold. This suction is communicated by means of tube 23, past valve seat 24, opening 1'1 into the upper part of housing 10, thence through the perforations in discs 42 and 45 and the loose filter element confined therebetween to the glass cup 31, through the inside of tube 39 to the tube 48, and thus to the body of air and vapors in the crank case of the engine above the oil sump.

By means of this suction, the air and vapors and other light particles of dust, carbon, sludge, water vapor and gasolene seepage past the piston rings, impurities in the lubricating oil and so forth are drawn into the device by means of tube 48, where they enter through the tube 39 the glass cup 31. The heavy particles and impurities in these vapors or gases, such as water, heavy carbon, sludge, dirt and the like, drop there by gravity into the empty cup 31 accumulating at the bottom thereof. The lighter impurities, in addition to the volatile fumes, moisture or steam and lubricating film are then drawn by the suction through the disc 45 where then the light solid impurities are intercepted by the filter element 47. The strained or purified gases and vapors are then further drawn through the top disc 42, opening 1'1, past valve seat 24 and tube 23 into the intake manifold, thus admitting into the engine through the manifold a spray or mist of minute particles of oil or oil vapor which in turn will be deposited on the valve stems, compression rings, cylinder walls, and pistons thus greatly aiding their lubrication. Moisture or water vapor drawn from the crank case will enter the intake manifold and will be deposited in the explosion chamber forming steam thus reducing the formation of carbon. Cleaned fuel gases mix with the air drawn into the manifold, thereby enriching the mixture and, being otherwise wasted. greatly improve the efficiency of performance of an engine employing the device.

The automatic control device for the suction is very simple in operation. Should there be a sudden increase. in suction, the valve 21 will be drawn by the suction against the tension of the spring 25 toward its seat 24 thus reducing the space between valve 21 and seat 24 and proportionately decreasing the suction within the device. As soon as the suction is restored to normal, the space between valve 22 and seat 24 is again automatically increased. The relative positions and desired spaces between 22 and 24 can be conveniently adjusted by varying the position of plug 18.

The entire filter can readily be removed, cleaned and replaced. The density of the filter element proper can be varied to suit various conditions by packing the same more or less tightly between the discs 42 and 45. Should the glass cup 31 be nearly full, it is only necessary to push aside the frame 32 by pressing against bottom bar 36, which causes siderods 33 to swivel on top of ears 26 and permit the glass cup to be removed.

I am aware of the fact that devices have been proposed for the cleansing of oil and vapors by leading the vapors through a body of oil in a receptacle, the impurities to be deposited or caught by the oil. In my device, however, I do not employ any cleansing oil, but catch the heavy impurities by gravity in a dry cup, and the light impurities and contaminated vapors in a filter superimposed over the dry cup, providing an apparatus of this kind which is exceedingly simple in construction and more efiicient in performance as well as readily cleanable.

It is obvious that many changes in the construction of the apparatus may be made. So, for instance, the automatic suction control valve while shown as an integral part of the housing, may be made separately therefrom and interposed at any convenient point between the housing and the intake manifold. Means may be provided for at the bottom of the glass cup for convenient draining of the same without removal. Many other means may be used to clamp the glass cup to the housing.

It is obvious therefore that various other changes of form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principles or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new, is:

1. In an apparatus for the purification and reclaiming of crank case vapors and gases, a housing, a filter element within the housing, a normally dry reservoir, below the said element, the said housing having an inlet leading to the interior of the said reservoir and communicating with the crank case of an internal combustion engine above the sump and an outlet above the said filter element communicating with the intake manifold thereof, and automatic means interposed between the housing and intake manifold to minimize within the housing and reservoir variations in suction from the manifold.

2. In an apparatus for the purification and reclaiming of crank case vapors and gases, a housing having an inlet communicating with the crank case of an internal combustion engine above the sump, a removable filter within the housing comprising a central tube secured to the said inlet, a filter element disposed around the said tube within the housing, and perforated discs at both ends of the said element adjustably mounted upon the said tube for confining the same in the housing, and a removable and normally dry reservoir below the said housing and filter, the said housing having an outlet above the said filter communicating with the intake manifold of the said engine.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a housing, a removable filter element within the housing, a reservoir below said housing, said housing having an inlet to the top of said reservoir communicating with the upper part of a crank case of an internal combustion engine and an outlet above said filter element communicating with the intake manifold thereof and a spring pressed clamping member for removably holding the reservoir to the housing.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, a

housing, a removable filter element within the housing, a reservoir below said housing, said housing having an inlet to the top of said reservoir communicating with the upper part of a crank case of an internal combustion engine and an outlet above said filter element communicating with the intake manifold thereof, a spring pressed clamping member for removably holding the reservoir to the housing and a tube-like member on the clamping member at the point where it engages the reservoir.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a housing having an inwardly extending tubular portion at its top end and an open bottom end,

a bracket formed on said housing at the rear thereof for mounting same on a support, a cylindrical housing formed on said housing at the front thereof for supporting valve mechanism, said valve housing being formed with an opening communicating with the interior of said first named housing and having an exit opening, and perforated ear portions formed on said first named housing for supporting a member for removabiy closing the open bottom end of the said housing, said housings, bracket and ears being formed of a single casting.

JAMES H. KRIECK. 

